Landing suddenly in cold water will take your breath away and can compromise your ability to survive. The 1-10-1 principle will help you get through an accidental immersion.

1 Minute Cold ShockIt starts with a deep, involuntary gasp (you may inhale more than a litre of water if your head is under), followed by rapid hyperventilation. Do not panic. Wearing a lifejacket will allow you to focus on getting your breathing under control.

10 Minutes Cold IncapacitationUse this time to self rescue or call for help because you will soon become so incapacitated that you will be unable to even swim or treat water. Without a lifejacket on to help keep your airway open you will likely drown.

1 Hour HypothermiaIf you can keep your airway open to breathe, you will remain conscious for about an hour, and alive even longer before you succumb to hypothermia. A lifejacket will keep you afloat and help keep your airway open while you await rescue.

If you are boating around cold water, wear your lifejacket. It’s not called a ‘life jacket’ for nothing!

Wispy threads of morning mist rise slowly skyward off the unwavering water revealing a glassy expanse under sparkling sunlit skies. The smooth,still surface creates a canvas reflecting the surrounding landscape, mirroring every twisted tree and carved rock in an unnerving, almost hallucinatory manner.

Welcome to another simply glorious day at Bayfield Inlet on Georgian Bay.

Just to put it in historical time warp I was a World Sailing Vice President 1976-1994 and President from 1994-2004 representing Canada and the RCYC as well as Olympic Technical Delegate from L.A. 1984 - Athens 2004.

World Sailing is now going thru a major reassessment of Olympic Classes where the major focus is on "Technology" not "Talent". (Editor’s note: the daunting expense of newer boats like the 49er prohibits many sailors from participating.)

The Four Winns H290OB combines two of the most popular new big boat trends to come up with a great new 30 footer. It's a luxurious and spacious deep-V day boat that can handle big water and big groups, and it's powered by outboards. In this case, two Mercury Verado 300s gives this boat 600 hp of silky smooth, ready to run power.

The H290 has been available for the past three seasons as a twin-engine stern drive powered boat, but the outboard version is brand-new and it's a home run for sure!

A thin breeze skittered across the Gulf of Maine, and a low cloud ceiling stamped-outany moonlight, making for a darknight aboard my dad’s J/44, Southern Cross. My wife and I were standing watch with nothing to look at, save a few distant lights. While my wife enjoys excellent vision, I suffer from severe red-green color blindness that makes it hard to determine if I’m looking at bow and stern lights, discreet vessels, or both. Given that in August of 2006 Automatic Identification System (AIS) wasn’t yet widespread amongst recreational craft, we spent the next few minutes trying to discern the nature of the scene before consulting the radar, getting on the VHF, and waking our captain.

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